The second weekend of September is national Open Monuments Day in the Netherlands. This year, it will be held on Saturday September 14. The idea of the day is that more than four thousand historical buildings and sites will welcome visitors free of charge, for a sneak peek behind the scenes.
Among these, such attractions as the Wall House II in Groningen, known for its eccentric design, the museum of a Dutch comic artist Jan Kruis in Drenthe and the 15th century Dekema State manor house in Friesland will all be open to visitors this coming weekend.
The theme of this year’s Open Monument Day is ‘Places of pleasure’: looking into which historical places people go to for relaxation and entertainment.
In addition to exploring historical houses, museums, industrial buildings and churches, Open Monuments Day visitors can participate in on-site cultural activities, guided tours, sports games and musical performances.
Since 1987, the Open Monuments Day offers people a chance to explore historical sites in the Netherlands for free, in order to increase public interest in monuments and support for their preservation. Along with other 47 countries, the Dutch event is a part of the European Heritage Days. The Netherlands was one of the first countries to participate in the scheme.
If you want to learn more about Dutch history and culture, check the official website to find the locations of participating sites and buildings here.
